There is an intimacy between elite athletes and their coaches that can easily become a breeding ground for abuse. In order to get the best performance, to secure the next victory, the coach pushes the athlete to physical, mental, and emotional extremes. The coach is privy to every detail of the athlete’s body and, sometimes, even their mind. The coach is pleased when the athlete performs well, cold or angry when there is a loss. There is no doubt genuine affection between the coach and the athlete, but it’s innately built on a power imbalance: if the athlete wants to win, then she must obey her coach.
A selection at Cannes last year, Charlène Favier’s “Slalom” depicts a fruitful, but toxic, coach-athlete relationship. Fifteen-year-old Lyz Lopez (Noée Abita) is the new skier at an exclusive French Alps club and Fred (Jérémie Renier) is the instructor who recognizes her potential. She starts out behind the other athletes at the club but she’s ambitious and competitive — Fred believes she could make it to the Olympics one day.
And so he takes her under his wing. He demands a grueling training schedule, humiliates her in front of the other skiers, and is a bit overly familiar. It’s confusing for Lyz, and the viewer: is it normal for female athletes to undress in front of their male coaches? Is it really necessary for Lyz to tell Fred when she’s menstruating, as he says it is? Is Fred grooming Lyz or doing what it takes to make her a champion? Honestly, he might be doing both.
The closer Lyz gets to Fred, the better she is on the slopes. She’s soon racking up medals and trophies, but her mental health and grades take a hit. Most of the people in Lyz’s life, including her mother, assume she’s having a hard time coping with the pressure — and she is, to an extent. But the sport itself isn’t really the problem: it’s the hold Fred has over her.
Written by Favier and Marie Talon, “Slalom” delves into the complexities of abusive situations and power differentials, and is all the better for it. Lyz senses something is off in the way Fred treats her, yet craves his approval. She desperately wants someone to help her, but is quick to deflect when another instructor asks if Fred has been inappropriate. It’s a murky situation, but the film never falls into victim-blaming. It’s extremely difficult to disentangle yourself from an abuser, especially when you’ve been conditioned to see his abuse as constructive. Especially when you’re fond of him.
A psychological thriller and a sports drama, “Slalom” is an uncomfortable, but riveting, watch. Abita is wonderful as a mature young woman slowly realizing the person she trusts most isn’t worthy of her affection, and Renier skillfully brings to life a master of manipulation. With its real-life parallels and a story that plays out like a slow-motion train wreck, this is a film that stays with you.
“Slalom” is now in theaters in New York and Los Angeles. It is also available via virtual cinemas.
